Chapter 285

After Defeating the Catacombs Area Boss
After defeating the final monster, we opened the rainbow-colored treasure chest.
Inside, as expected, was another fragment of paper.
How do I use this?

How exactly are these used?

(Oh, you’ve calmed the spirits of my ancestors.)

"Whoa!?"

A translucent man—the one I’d met in the throne room—suddenly appeared behind me.
You can’t just appear like that without warning!

(Thank you for granting my request. As a small token of appreciation, I’ll bestow a gift. Please, hand over the fragments you’ve collected so far.)

The fragments? Well, I didn’t mind.
I took out all eight fragments, including the one I’d just acquired.
The pieces glowed, floating up and merging into a single sheet.
It returned to my hands, and when I looked at it, I saw it had turned into a map.

What is this?

(It’s a map leading to the treasure hidden in this dungeon. Keep it safe.)

"Got it. But isn’t it possible for someone else to obtain this too?"

(The six knights will not reappear, nor will the spirits of the ancestors. That map is truly one of a kind.)

Wow, this is more important than I thought.

Melanie had once explained why no one had managed to defeat the six knights before.
They were overwhelmingly strong and could regenerate their wounds unless constantly attacked.
Even when multiple parties worked together, they’d been defeated by the knights’ heavy armor and devastating attacks.
And since the knights only stayed in specific locations and didn’t actively attack passersby, no one had gone out of their way to fight them—until us.

Most adventurers come for the items dropped by dungeon monsters.
I, however, had my sights set on Skill Crystals, so my goal was different.

Anyway, I’d secured the treasure map.
But the gratitude for calming the ancestors didn’t end there.
I was also granted permission to take any of the burial goods I wanted.

Normally, taking burial goods would involve battling cursed skeletons of considerable strength.
However, we were exempt from that, with no limits on what we could take.
Although I wasn’t particularly interested, I decided to investigate since the opportunity was there.

The burial goods were divided into two categories: equipment and ornaments placed atop the coffins, and artworks stored inside them.
After discussing it with Melanie, we decided not to touch the artworks inside the coffins.
Even with permission, taking items from so close to the deceased felt wrong.
Not to mention, it seemed like the kind of thing that could bring a curse.

We focused on collecting only the equipment and ornaments.
Even so, we ended up with quite a haul.
Every item was a magic artifact with unique effects.

For example:
- A sword that burns anything it touches.
- A bow that gathers surrounding mana and transforms it into arrows.
- A shield that creates a magic barrier when infused with mana.

The ornaments were similarly enchanted, making them unsuitable for public circulation.
According to Melanie, such items would never be accepted by the Trade Guild.
So, I decided to stash the ones I didn’t need deep in my backpack.

It’s a shame to let them go unused, but I don’t really have a choice.

What do you think about this chapter?